Film Influencer 2025 - 28 Years Later

28 Years Later is the third instalment in the 28 Days Later film series, following 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007).

Featuring Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, & Ralph Fiennes.

Plans for a third film began shortly after the release of 28 Weeks Later. The project had numerous delays over the years regarding conflicts over the franchise film rights, stalling it into development hell.

Development gained traction in 2024, when series producer Andrew Macdonald bought the rights to the first film back from Searchlight Pictures, which he then sold to Sony Pictures on the provision the studio agreed to fund sequels. 

28 Years Later marks the returns of Boyle, Garland and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle to the series, all of whom worked on the first film, with original star Cillian Murphy also serving as executive producer. 

It was shot back-to-back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set to be released in January 2026.

28 Years Later has received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $73.6 million worldwide against its budget of $60 million. So that is a rare profit at the cinemas these days!

So what is 28 Days Later about? It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. 

One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

It is slightly gory, it feels at times like a video game, but it's actually gone some heart behind it.

Young Alfie Williams was excellent. I was impressed by this film after maybe missing the sequel, 28 Weeks Later, however I am sure I have seen the OG film.

I will look forward to the sequel film coming in January next year.

If you need to escape the school holidays madness, this gets a solid 3.5 stars.

Film Influencer 2025 - M3GAN 2.0

So after after a week or so off the cinema, I'm back and so is the murderous doll who captivated pop culture in 2023.

The original creative team behind that phenomenon—led by horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse and writer-director Gerard Johnstone—reboot an all-new wild chapter in A.I. mayhem with M3GAN 2.0. 

Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules.

Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around. 

With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I icon is about to meet her match.

Also starring the wonderful lead of the English Teacher, Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps as Gemma’s loyal tech teammates, Cole and Tess, and new characters played by Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live, Hacks), Timm Sharp (Apples Never Fall, Percy Jackson and the Olympians) and Grammy winner and 11-time Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (Avatar: The Way of Water, What We Do in the Shadows). 

So is this camp, Chucky meets Terminator any good for a second time? Well my partner hated it, Rotten Tomatoes gives it a score in the high 50's. But for me...

I liked it. It is no longer a horror film, more an action-comedy.

M3GAN has some seriously brilliant one-liners. The action scenes look fairly well done with CGI.

This film honestly gives a full Kylie or Madonna era change with the genre bending (and body bending, dancing) M3GAN. It is not going to win any awards, get critics loving it, but take it for what it is.

A fun little escape from the 24/7 news headlines.

M3GAN 2.0 gets a solid 3 Stars.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - We Were Liars - Miniseries

We Were Liars is the latest teen psychological/thriller series based on the 2014 novel of the same name by E. Lockhart. 

This is yet another Amazon Prime Video original, that landed earlier this month. I'm listing this as a miniseries. There is a clear conclusion at the end of the series.

So what is We Were Liars about? The eight episodes, follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed ‘the Liars,’ during their summer escapades vacationing on their grandfather’s New England private island. On the surface the Sinclair family is known for their good looks, generational wealth, and close familial bond, but after a life-altering accident, everyone, not just the Liars, seems to have something to hide.  

Starring Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence Sinclair Eastman,  Shubham Maheshwari as Gat Patil, Esther McGregor as Mirren Sinclair Sheffield, Joseph Zada as Johnny Sinclair Dennis; alongside Caitlin FitzGerald as Penny Sinclair, Mamie Gummer as Carrie Sinclair, Candice King as Bess Sinclair, Rahul Kohi as Ed Patil and David Morse as Harris Sinclair. 

So how'd it end? Maybe you read the book from ten years ago? If not SPOILERS BELOW! However this was an easy binge, if you start it, you just push through and finish it.

In episode eight, My Friends Are Lying in the Sun, though Cadence remembers the fire, she still does not know how the summer of 2016 ended. 

For her 18th birthday, Harris gifts her the black pearl necklace, which triggers an episode of flashbacks.

The Liars arrive to comfort her, but Cadence confronts them about abandoning her after the accident. 

Reluctantly, the Liars tell her the truth, that the three of them died in the fire and that she has been speaking to their ghosts. Horrified, Cadence tries to return the necklace to Harris, but he calls her entitled and tells her that he lied about the cause of the fire to protect the family. 

Instead of indulging his wishes and speaking to a reporter for a puff piece about their family, Cadence leaves the island, stating that she was once a Sinclair, but will always be a Liar.

OK sounds random? Well it was. It gives Gossip Girl, I Know What You Did Last Summer, any other teen drama with rich kids vibes. However it was a very simple watch. The Liars island and house is incredible. Of course they are all good looking, with one looking a lot like Sabrina Carpenter.

Maybe not Amazon's best series. But an OK watch all the same. Maybe the last Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' post for the series, happy EOFY!!!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Sullivan's Crossing - Season Three

Sullivan's Crossing just concluded with a double episode Monday evening.

The Canadian romantic drama series, From CTV, streams exclusively on Stan in Australia. It is a popular little series, very similar to Virgin River on Netflix. There are reasons behind this. Both shows are based on different series of novels by Robyn Carr, set in small towns, and feature female protagonists in the medical field who move to those small towns to process the trauma of their past – and, along the way, find love.

Earlier this month, the series was renewed by CTV for a fourth season! Praise be!

Season three of Sullivan’s Crossing picked up where season two ended with the fire at Rob's (Reid Price) diner and Maggie (Morgan Kohan) losing the baby.

Season three has placed a big focus on Rob rebuilding his life and Maggie getting over her grief to grow closer to Cal (Chad Michael Murray) - but not without tension. 

As for Cal, he finally made peace with his past, and his father. Elsewhere in the town, new romances were kindled with Sully (Scott Patterson) striking up a love connection with Helen (Kate Vernon), and Lola (Amalia Williamson) finding a potential match in Jacob Cranebear (Joel Oulette). 

Spoilers ahead if you didn't get to finish both episodes this Monday. Which to be honest I wasn't expecting a second episode this week. However after some research, it appears the trend is always ending on a double episode finale.

 

With a shocking cliffhanger that will obviously be the big storyline of Sullivan's Crossing season four. 

No one knew that Maggie had a husband - not even, it seems, her own father. Surely, had anyone else known, it would have come up previously. It's especially odd considering the fact that Maggie had been engaged to Andrew for the first two seasons and is now in love with and living with Cal in Sullivan's Crossing season three.

It seems as though this man, Liam, was someone to whom Maggie had been married briefly, and perhaps she didn't even know they technically were still married. S

he had mentioned earlier this season that he was just a summer fling, so maybe it was a wild night in Vegas she doesn't remember. It sure seems like it's something she should have mentioned to Cal before, though. Liam's sudden appearance is bound to cause problems. Likewise, there are those aforementioned questions about the other relationships.

It also seems as though Sullivan's Crossing season four may see a bit of a time jump. 

Nothing has been confirmed yet, however, it's hard to imagine the show without Scott Patterson's Sully being around. So, unless the upcoming season splits storylines between Timberlake and Ireland, it seems most likely that season four will pick up after he returns from his trip. 

My mum was completely shook at the finale. I thought the husband was her American ex, so it took me to reading an episode recap to figure out what the big shock was!

Either way, all is well that ends well is usually the case at Sullivan's Crossing. Yes there is drama, however, a resolution is always just around the corner!

Until next time, the Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' series is almost done and dusted! Seeya soon, bye!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Walking Dead: Dead City - Season Two

The Walking Dead: Dead City is the first sequel to The Walking Dead television series, and the fifth series in The Walking Dead franchise

Airing on AMC in the USA, and Stan back home, The Walking Dead characters Maggie and Negan return to slay more zombies and meet fucked up humans along the way. Also a bear this season WTF. 

OK season one was better, season two has been a trainwreck. Like I mean the last few seasons of the Walking Dead & Fear the Walking Dead bad!

Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan reprise their roles as Maggie and Negan from the original series.

Joining them in this eight episode slog, Kim Coates, Keir Gilchrist, Dascha Polanco, Jake Weary, and Pooya Mohseni were added to the cast for the second season.

There is no news on a third season yet, which may not be good news. As fellow spin-off The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has announced its return in September. Watch out for the spoilers below.

In the eight episode, The Dama and Hershel convince Maggie to finally kill Negan in order to finally move on; the Dama reveals that she had faked her death in the fire. 

Joined by a reluctant Perlie, Bruegel's gang attempts to ambush the Burazi, only to fall into a cleverly laid trap by Negan. 

Everyone aside from Bruegel and Perlie are killed by the Burazi and a herd unleashed by Negan. 

Negan captures the pair and brutally executes Bruegel after playing a game of eeny, meeny, miny, moe similar to the one that Negan played before killing Abraham and Glenn. 

Maggie stabs Negan to save Perlie, but is stopped from finishing the job with Lucille by the discovery that Ginny has died of her infection and reanimated. 

A devastated Negan puts the girl down while Maggie finally accepts that she needs to let go of her revenge and move forward. 

In the aftermath, Hershel remains with the Dama to continue her plans while a second wave of New Babylon forces arrives and is led to the methane by Benjamin Pierce. 

Maggie, Negan and Perlie vow to build a better future, recognising that the only way forward is together.

The ending and dying moments monologue is either setting us up for a third season or seeing the spin-off disappear into the sunset. I have a feeling the Walking Dead is totally running out of lives. Including zombie lives.

Tomorrow we will stay with Stan for the Sullivan's Crossing third season finale.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Ex-Wife - Season Two

Yet another another English trashy series, about missing kids, scandal, drama, this miniseries ended up continuing, it's The Ex-Wife, season two.

The British drama/thriller based on Jess Ryder's book of the same name, streams on Paramount+. 

The series stars Céline Buckens, Tom Mison, Jordan Stephens, Clare Foster, Adam Drew, Sam Hoare & with Katie McGrath replacing Janet Montgomery.

Again the second season consisted of four episodes. 

Again the series revolves around, Tasha (Buckens), Jack (Mison) & Jen (McGrath). 

The Stolen Girl was super trashy with this being equally almost as trashy.

The nicest thing about the second season is, it mostly revolves around Cyprus.

After three UK short series back to back, it's time to return to some US programming and hopefully find another Aussie series to watch. With Mixtape being a bit of an Aussie/Irish co-pro, it doesn't super feel like a regular local series. Can Channel Seven just hurry up and screen the third season of RFDS?

Like the second season finished early October 2023! Also the third season was filmed last year!

Anyone all eight series of The Ex-Wife now stream on Paramount+, alongside the brilliant MobLand, 1923, Tulsa King and Landman.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Stolen Girl - Miniseries

The Stolen Girl is trashy little UK miniseries based on the 2020 novel Playdate by Alex Dahl.

Starring Denise Gough, Holliday Grainger and Ambika Mod. With Aussie Xavier Samuel starring the handsome, Marcus Turner.

The five episodes dropped on Disney+ in mid-April.

Elisa (Gough) allows her daughter Lucia to go for a playdate with her new friend Josie. Josie’s mother Rebecca/Nina (Grainger) is charming, affluent, and her house is spectacular – Elisa instantly feels at ease and agrees to Lucia staying overnight for a sleepover. 

The next morning, when she goes to pick her daughter, she finds the house empty with no sign of Nina, Josie or Lucia. What started out as her daughter’s first ‘playdate’ turns into every parent's worst nightmare.

SPOILER ALERT! In the fifth episodes, we get a flashback to five years earlier, Turner and Elisa are shown starting their affair. She explains her difficult upbringing in the commune and that her father is now terminally ill. 

They agree to visit him together with Lucia. At the visit, it is revealed that Elisa suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her father when young and in an angry confrontation, he falls down the stairs and dies. The collision is then shown: Nina and Josephine had got out of the car because Josephine was ill and the Range Rover driven by Turner to the commune earlier is seen hitting the Thibault's parked car and then driving away. 

In the present the UK police are now aware that Selma and Elisa have flown to France, who are in Toulon and searching for where Nina lives. They start looking around the local schools for Josephine but realise that she is likely to be homeschooled and go to the Mayor's office to find out, where they find Nina's address. Nina gets the fake passport but has been spotted and reported to the local police. 

Lucia opens Nina's lockbox and sees photos and that they had been artificially altered. She leaves the house and discovers the well containing Matkovic's body. She meets a neighbour on the way back, whom she asks for help, but they are intercepted by Nina. 

Lucia runs out of the house again, then Elisa and Selma arrive. Nina and Elisa meet and argue; it is revealed that it was Elisa, not Marcus Turner, who was driving the car which killed Nina's daughter and husband, and Turner had taken the blame because Elisa was pregnant with George, their son. 

Elisa searches for Lucia and finds her safe and well. Nina and Josephine are seen driving away together.

Three months later Fred and Elisa meet at and discuss her pending sentencing; she has told him about George. Elisa is sentenced to six years in prison for her crimes.

It all wraps up nicely, after the we start to see Elisa as maybe not the innocent victim we thought she was from the earlier episodes.

Rebecca AKA Nina also has a very different side. This was an easy, yet forgettable watch. One more UK miniseries to go before I move onto to something new. Enjoy the weekend, stay warm dear readers!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes - Miniseries

Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is a British miniseries based on the 2005 killing of a Brazilian electrician by London police. 

Written by Jeff Pope, starring Edison Alcaide, Daniel Mays, Russell Tovey, Laura Aikman, Alex Jennings, Conleth Hill, Emily Mortimer & Max Beesley. 

The four episodes landed on Disney+ on late April. June - September is my TV catch up peroid, so expect some serious catch up posts for the next few months.

Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes documents the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes by officers of the Metropolitan Police Service at Stockwell station on the London Underground after he was wrongly deemed to be one of the fugitives involved in the previous day's failed bombing attempts.

This is not the first series based on Jean Charles de Menezes.

Back in 2006, the Panorama episode "Stockwell – Countdown to Killing" was shown on BBC One. The shooting was the subject of an hour-long factual drama titled Stockwell, first broadcast in 2009 in the UK on ITV1.

More recently in 2024, a two-part documentary titled Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube, first broadcast on Channel 4, seeks to set the shooting in the context of the fear-filled atmosphere in London in July 2005 and includes an interview with the police officer who killed Menezes.

While Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio has said the series, which starts with armed police shooting an unarmed man, was inspired by the shooting of Meneze.

This was a shocking event in history. The series was a full on watch. However the performances were incredible and this is a story that needs telling. All four episodes stream on Disney+ now.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - SkyMed - Season Three

I really vibed seasons one and two of Canadian medical series SkyMed, however season three was a little patchy. Life, death, and drama at 20-thousand feet. A new medical adventure about a group of young first responders in the remote North, where help - and survival - are thousands of miles away.

Nicola Correia-Damude joined the series as Chief Nurse Marianne Fereira, a nurse who and PR expert who comes to head up the SkyMed nurses and runs them strictly. Marianne was one of the main plot points of this season.

Also interesting to point out, earlier this month, the series was renewed for a fourth season only on Paramount+. But with how the ninth episode wraps, who will return?

Joining Nicola Correia-Damude, Natasha Calis (Nurses) as Hayley, Morgan Holmstrom (Day of the Dead) as Crystal, Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew) as Chopper, Mercedes Morris (Ghosts) as Lexi, Thomas Elms (The Boys in the Boat) as Nowak, Kheon Clarke (Riverdale) as Tristan, Sydney Kuhne (Ginny & Georgia) as Stef and Aaron Ashmore (Ginny & Georgia) as Wheezer. 

The recurring cast was comprised of “Ace” Aason Nadjiwon (The Twilight Zone) as Bode, Emilia McCarthy (Zombies) as Madison, Anthony Grant (V-Wars) as TJ & Braeden Clarke (Outlander) guest-starred as Jeremy.

Th season starts with the arrival of a new Chief Nurse Marianne Fereira, who throws the whole SkyMed flight crew off-balance, until an unexpected accident causes a shocking loss.

Now a brief spoiler alert following this trailer.

In the last episode, things wrap up fairly nicely, as Bodie's wedding celebrations take an unexpected turn, forcing the SkyMed flight crew to race to save one of their own.

However the finale also could double as a series finale, with lots of loose ends being wrapped.

Episode six, Wheezervision is the most cringe, however with bombs on board planes, a random camping trip and the SkyMed documentary storyline, things do get a little silly from time to time across this nine episode drop.

Fingers crossed the next eight episode fourth season drop is stronger. This is not my only Canadian series I have jumped into, with Sullivan's Crossing also screening currently on Stan.

Until next time, see you soon!

Logies 2025 - My Picks

Yesterday, The Logies nominations were announced. Here is my yearly tradition of "My Picks" in Red + BOLD, let's see how I go. 

The ABC plus streaming (particularly Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar) did exceptionally well with the nominations yesterday.

Stan were the real streaming losers with very few nominations across multiple shows. Randomly US series Good Cop/Bad Cop got a few more nods than the final run of Bump or the recent gay drama Invisible Boys. Was Ten Pound Poms, Scrublands and Black Snow all released too late too?

Binge did well with the return of crowd favourite Colin From Accounts, which luckily has already been renewed for a third season. The Twelve also scored a couple of nods.

Voting is now open, so get cracking people! The ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday, August 3. A little earlier than last year.

Here we go, my picks below!

TV Week Gold Logie – Most Popular Personality on Australian Television

Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, The Olympic Games Paris 2024, 9Network

Hamish Blake, Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

Julia Morris, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Network 10

Lisa Millar, Back Roads, ABC News Breakfast, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now, Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies, ABC

Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network

Poh Ling Yeow, MasterChef Australia, Network 10

Sonia Kruger, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, Logies Red Carpet Show, Seven Network

Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter

Hamish Blake, Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

Julia Morris, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Network 10

Ricki-Lee, Australian Idol, Seven Network

Sonia Kruger, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, Logies Red Carpet Show, Seven Network

Todd Woodbridge, Tipping Point Australia, Australian Open, The Olympic Games Paris 2024, Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, 9Network

Zan Rowe, Take 5 With Zan Rowe, ABC New Year’s Eve, ABC

Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent

Guy Montgomery, Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee, ABC

Hailey Pinto, Home and Away, Seven Network

Jenny Tian, Taskmaster Australia, Network 10

Kate Miller-Heidke, The Voice, Seven Network

Kylah Day, Territory, Netflix

Sofia Levin, MasterChef Australia, Network 10

Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter

Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, 9Network

David Speers, Insiders, ABC

Michael Usher, 7News, 7News Spotlight, Seven Network

Peter Overton, 9News, 9Network

Sarah Ferguson, 7.30, ABC

Tara Brown, 60 Minutes, Dangerous Lies: Unmasking Belle Gibson, 9Network

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actor in a Drama

Lloyd Griffith, Return To Paradise, ABC

Michael Dorman, Territory, Netflix

Robert Taylor, Territory, Netflix

Sam Corlett, Territory, Netflix

Sam Neill, The Twelve, Binge / Foxtel

Tai Hara, Return To Paradise, ABC

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actress in a Drama

Alycia Debnam-Carey, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Anna Samson, Return To Paradise, ABC

Anna Torv, Territory, Netflix

Ayesha Madon, Heartbreak High, Netflix

Kaitlyn Dever, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actor in a Comedy

Aaron Chen, Fisk, ABC

Ben Miller, Austin, ABC

Clancy Brown, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Luke Cook, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Michael Theo, Austin, ABC

Patrick Brammall, Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actress in a Comedy

Harriet Dyer, Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

Jenna Owen, Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story, Stan

Kitty Flanagan, Fisk, ABC

Leighton Meester, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Sally Phillips, Austin, ABC

Vic Zerbst, Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story, Stan

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Supporting Actor

Ashley Zukerman, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Darren Gilshenan, Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

Glenn Butcher, Fisk, ABC

Mark Coles Smith, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Matt Nable, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Sam Delich, Territory, Netflix

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Supporting Actress

Aisha Dee, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Chloé Hayden, Heartbreak High, Netflix

Julia Zemiro, Fisk, ABC

Marg Downey, The Newsreader, ABC

Michelle Lim Davidson, The Newsreader, ABC

Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Best Drama Program

Bump, Stan

Heartbreak High, Netflix

Return To Paradise, ABC

Territory, Netflix

The Newsreader, ABC

The Twelve, Binge / Foxtel

Best Miniseries or Telemovie

Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Critical Incident, Stan

Fake, Paramount+

How To Make Gravy, Binge / Foxtel

Human Error, 9Network

Plum, ABC

Best Entertainment Program

ABC New Year’s Eve, ABC

Australian Idol, Seven Network

Countdown 50 Years On, ABC

Dancing With The Stars, Seven Network

The Voice, Seven Network

Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight, 9Network

Best Current Affairs Program

60 Minutes, 9Network

7.30, ABC

7NEWS Spotlight, Seven Network

A Current Affair, 9Network

Australian Story, ABC

Four Corners, ABC

Best Scripted Comedy Program

Austin, ABC

Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

Fisk, ABC

Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ABC

Optics, ABC

Best Comedy Entertainment Program

Gruen, ABC

Hard Quiz, ABC

Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network 10

Sam Pang Tonight, Network 10

Thank God You’re Here, Network 10

The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, ABC

Best Competition Reality Program

Alone Australia, SBS

Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn II, Network 10

Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

MasterChef Australia, Network 10

My Kitchen Rules, Seven Network

The Block, 9Network

Best Structured Reality Program

Farmer Wants A Wife, Seven Network

Gogglebox Australia, Network 10

Married At First Sight, 9Network

Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies, ABC

Shark Tank Australia, Network 10

The Real Housewives of Sydney, Binge / Foxtel

Best Lifestyle Program

Better Homes and Gardens, Seven Network

Do You Want To Live Forever?, 9Network

Gardening Australia, ABC

Grand Designs Australia, ABC

Restoration Australia, ABC

Travel Guides, 9Network

Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report

Betrayal of Trust, Four Corners, ABC

Building Bad, 60 Minutes, 9Network

Courage & Science, A Current Affair, 9Network

Cyclone Alfred, 7NEWS, Seven Network

Melbourne Protests, Sunrise, Seven Network

Trump Assassination Attempt, 7News, Seven Network

Best Factual or Documentary Program

Big Miracles, 9Network

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story, Seven Network

Miriam Margolyes Impossibly Australian, ABC

The Assembly, ABC

Tsunami: 20 Years On, 9Network

Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story, 9Network

Best Sports Coverage

2024 AFL Finals Series, Seven Network

2024 State of Origin, 9Network

2025 Australian Open Finals, 9Network

Australia v India: Border – Gavaskar Trophy, Kayo Sports / Foxtel

CommBank Matildas V China PR, Network 10

The Olympic Games Paris 2024, 9Network / Stan Sport

Best Children’s Program

Bluey, ABC

Ginger and the Vegesaurs, ABC

Hard Quiz Kids, ABC

Little J & Big Cuz, NITV / ABC

Play School, ABC

Rock Island Mysteries, Network 10

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Good Cop/Bad Cop - Season One

Good Cop/Bad Cop is The CW/Roku/Stan co-production, whilst filmed in QLD, Australia.

The first eight episodes follow Lou (Leighton Meester) and Henry (Luke Cook), a sister and brother detective team in a small Pacific Northwest police force who must contend with colourful residents, a serious lack of resources, and their very complicated dynamic with each other and their police chief, Big Hank (Clancy Brown) – who happens to be their father.

Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester as Det. Lou Hickman, a 7-year veteran of the Eden Vale P.D. who was the sole Detective of her small town police force until she convinced her father, the Chief of Police, to hire some help. Due to her department's small budget, Lou leans on her sunny disposition to solve the varied crimes in town. She harbours feelings for Shane, played by Devon Terrell.

Det. Shane Carson, a member of the Sheriff's Department who frequently works with Lou when she works outside the Eden Vale city limits. He is separated from his wife and fancies Lou. He is able to help Lou and Henry's investigations due to his better budget.

Then there is Luke Cook as Det. Henry Hickman, Lou's younger brother and Big Hank's estranged son who left home after writing an editorial criticising his father. 

He returns to Eden Vale after being offered a promotion to Detective by his father–a promotion he was unable to secure while working on the Seattle Police Department due to his lack of interpersonal skills and terrible bedside manner. He is still in love with his ex-girlfriend Dr. Marci Laine who he left in the town to pursue his career in Seattle.

Clancy Brown as Big Hank Hickman, the Chief of Police in Eden Vale and father of Lou and Henry. He freely admits to redrawing the town borders to ensure that his town is considered low-crime, as well as routinely providing favours for his friends. Lastly, Blazey Best plays Nadia Drozdova, Big Hank's Russian girlfriend.

This is a very sweet series filmed locally which I do really hope gets a second season. Given the CW hasn't made announcements about how its October - December 2025  lineup will look.

Given this show has a famous face and former CW Gossip Girl legend, Leighton Meester, the fact it is filmed down under, here is hoping they can make a second season.

I know cash is strapped in the USA for network TV. Particularly The CW and FOX.

Good Cop/Bad Cop is one of the best things I have seen on Stan (or The CW for that matter) for a while. Stan needs more local content, actually more content in general.

This was a super easy watch in under around 7 hours! That's an entire day in the office, shit!

Film Influencer 2025 - Dangerous Animals

Dangerous Animals is a 2025 

What is with Aussie survival horrors in 2025? Bring her Back, the rebooted I Know What You Did Last Summer, Ok so it's a US film, however filmed here, with an Aussie crew, including my neighbours GF.

So back to Dangerous Animals.

The film directed by Sean Byrne and written by Nick Lepard. Starring Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke & new villain energy by Jai Courtney.

Dangerous Animals had its premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival last month, then landing on Aussie screens this Thursday.

Dangerous Animals has received generally positive reviews from critics. With Hassie Harrison as Zephyr playing a solid lead with Jai Courtney as Tucker, almost giving Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) backpacker hater energy.

Heartbreak High hunk and real life model, Josh Heuston as Moses is a sweet real estate agent come hero, while Ella Newton as Heather & Liam Greinke as Greg star in the terrifying opening scene.

Aussie legend, Rob Carlton (who recently was spotted on the third White Lotus scene) plays Dave. Who is usually drunk on a boat next to Tuckers.

Basic plot? Trapped on a killer’s boat with hungry sharks circling below, a surfer must outwit a predator more dangerous than the ocean itself. Thi is Sean Byrne third visceral feature.

OK so part shark film, part crazy ass Aussie killer horror film. This was actually way better and more crazy than I expected.

It also doesn't out stay it's welcome at just over an hour and a half.

For anyone who needs more local horror after Bring Her Back. This is fairly damn good.

Dangerous Animals rates a heart stopping 3 Stars. Yes I jumped in my seat multiple times. Great to see a few good local films at the cinemas back-to-back!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Heartstopper - Season Three

Heartstopper's third season I have been waiting to catch up on, originally streamed last October.

So while I look after my neighbour's cat, it's time to catch up on my Netflix stories, as I completely dropped this streaming service!

Back in April, Netflix ordered a feature-length Heartstopper film that would act as the series finale, in place of a fourth season.

Season three explores some dark issues for Charlie (Joe Locke), while Nick (Kit Connor), does his best to be a sweet, supportive boyfriend throughout the season.

The rest of the friendship group Tao Xu (William Gao), Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney), Isaac Henderson (Tobie Donovan), Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) & Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell) have a lot going on!

In the finale, Charlie's mother apologises to him and shares her difficult relationship with her overbearing mother. 

Nick, Elle, Tara, and Imogen take a road trip to visit university options. At the University of Oxford, Imogen tells Nick she does not like boys and has been struggling with compulsory heterosexuality. 

Tara realises she does not like Oxford and ponders her future. Having preferred the University of Leeds to schools closer to home, Nick expresses his fears of being away from Charlie to the girls, who encourage him to branch out. 

Charlie prepares to play the drums with Sahar's band at a summer fete. Charlie encourages Tori to share love with others, especially Michael. Nick and the girls fight traffic to see the band's performance. Elle tells Tao she wants to study elsewhere in Europe. 

Charlie's parents let him sleep over at Nick's, where Charlie takes his shirt off and the two have sex.

I have a feeling the finale/film will possibly land this year concluding another one of Netflix's legacy series. With Cobra Kai & You already concluding, Stranger Things ending later in three parts, and Squid Game ending this month, the streaming service is saying goodbye to some of their most successful series.

So expect a You catch up, along with a quick Squid Game binge. Damn those two shows were particularly addictive!

Catch ya soon dear readers!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Cleaning Lady - Season Four/Series Finale

The Cleaning Lady returns for an action-packed season fourth and finale season. Streaming in Australia a little later than last week's double finale on FOX. This in fact is the last show I watch on the FOX network! Rescue HI-Surf and 9-1-1: Lone Star also ended this season.

The later, I am waiting for the final few episodes to land on Disney+, then I will post my verdict.

I watched a number of episodes in Japan, and man it was so much better than the poor Cleaning Lady.

Sadly this show had tragedy strike ahead of the third season with Adan Canto passing. Losing main lead, Arman Morales was felt through season three, which really went a bit off the rails.

Season four continued to go a little more off the rails, while having a declining viewership. So I sort of saw the writing on the wall for this series.

For the final season, Yancey Arias, Daniel Bonjour, Alain Uy, Patricia De León & Robert Cicchini joined the cast in a recurring role, while Khalen Roman Sanchez came onboard as Luca De La Rosa in a recasting, replacing the LaSalle twins for the final season. While Lea Salonga joined as a guest star.

After three seasons of being a pawn caught between the FBI and the world of organised crime, Thony (Élodie Yung, Daredevil, The Defenders) makes the bold decision to take charge of her own destiny — by exchanging her cleaning lady uniform for the scrubs of a surgical intern at a small community hospital.

Thony's return to the medical career she sacrificed for her son, Luca, opens a new path to citizenship for them both. 

But to make this happen, she must continue her service to the Sin Cara cartel — not as a cleaning lady, but as the new mob doctor — bringing her ever closer to Jorge (Santiago Cabrera, The Flight Attendant, Big Little Lies), the cartel's brooding new leader. 

Under the watchful eye of the hospital's brusque yet handsome chief resident, Thony straddles the line between two worlds until they inevitably come crashing into each other.

Yes there is a random love triangle in the final season, with a brother/sister good cop/bad cop situation going down throughout the season.

Did this show maybe need to end on Binge after the second season? Probably. Sadly it went on a little too long, however by the ending I feel they knew it was coming to an end. The finale did have one of those The Equalizer moments, with most (maybe not Kate del Castillo as Ramona Sanchez) getting a happy ending.

Network TV (for me) only has one show on the bubble. Doctor Odyssey. So time will tell on that one!

Until next time, stay warm!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Survivors - Miniseries

The Survivors is the latest local Netflix series, created by Tony Ayres. From the author of The Dry (book/now film series), Jane Harper's, this miniseries is based on her 2020 novel.

The six episodes follows Kieran Elliott (Charlie Vickers) and how his life changed forever when three people close to him died in the coastal town of Evelyn Bay, Tasmania following a terrible storm. He returns home 15 years later with his family, to find both the community and Kieran himself, still haunted by memories of the past.

The community is desperate for answers and they are forced to uncover the mysteries that continue to haunt and daunt them all those years on.

Alongside Vickers, the local production stars, new and old local stars. Yerin Ha, New Zealand's finest, Robyn Malcolm, Thom Green, George Mason, Don Hany, Jessica De Gouw, Damien Garvey, the original Blue Heeler, Martin Sacks & Catherine McClements.

Watch out, if you unlike me binged this over the recent long weekend, spoilers are below. Or maybe like my dad you read the book!

In the finale, George Barlin is identified as Bronte's stalker, but he has an alibi for the time of the murder.

Amongst Bronte's pictures is one of Gabby's name carved into the caves, suggesting that she had drowned there. 

Kieran returns to the caves with Sean in the hopes of finding proof. Sean reveals that he had taken Gabby to the caves where he had tried to kiss her, only to be rejected. Embarrassed, Sean ran out and Gabby got lost and drowned. 

Bronte found Gabby's carving and while trying to delete the picture, Sean killed her and framed Brian.

Sean attacks Kieran, but he escapes. Having linked Sean to Bronte's camera, the police arrest him for her murder, find Gabby's body and exonerate Toby, Finn, Liam and Brian. 

Kieran makes amends with Mia, and they decide to stay in Evelyn Bay. At the memorial for those who died in the storm, Trish is finally able to make peace with the loss of her daughter.

This was a solid watch and a decent Netflix series amongst the vast library of content. The streamer is turning out so much content of late, with the latest series to lead discussions, Dept. Q. I must catch up on this soon.

I still need to do the recent Adolescence, which also was a Netflix water cooler moment. In the age of TV cutting costs, cancelling news programs, Netflix sure is turning out their fair share of content still. I am happy they have at least attempted to make a few Aussie series.

Bring on the final season of Heartbreak High!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Real Housewives of Sydney - Season Three

The Real Housewives of Sydney are back! The bitches from the East are back with all their claws completely out. No one was playing this season!

This season was packed with luxury getaways to New Zealand and Noosa, next-level fashion, all while being set against Sydney’s stunning skyline & iconic harbour. 

The 10-part BINGE original series commended earlier this year, concluding last month. However with holidays, life and other shows in my way, It took a while to catch up on all ten plus one reunion episodes from season three.

Caroline Gaultier’s feud with Dr. Kate Adams erupts into a social media ‘blocking war,’ all while she balances caring for her ailing mum and a whirlwind romance. 

Sally Obermeder debuts a stunning transformation but is pushed to her limits during a tense girls’ trip to Noosa. 

Meanwhile, Nicole O’Neil faces empty-nester blues and mounting tension with the Terry Biviano. 

Newcomer Martine Chippendale stirs the pot, clashing with the outspoken Krissy Marsh. The drama peaks during an adrenaline fuelled NZ, where tempers flare, and one housewife makes a dramatic exit. 

But as alliances shift, rivalries heat up and the bonds of sisterhood are tested!

However it wasn't all roses developing this third season for Binge. Production on the third season was interrupted multiple times. In May 2024, Marsh, O'Neill and another cast member reportedly threatened to quit, after objecting to Biviano returning to the series midway of filming.

In December 2024, reports of an alleged physical altercation saw production abandon filming. Unedited rushes were subsequently sent to NBCUniversal, owner of Matchbox Pictures, following complaints from several cast members. 

Then came the reunion special hosted by Osher Günsberg was filmed, with O’Neil again not in attendance, instead appearing from the UK. This was after refusing to fly economy home to film the special episode. So not surprisingly, last month O'Neil announced her departure from the show after three seasons.

We also had a bit of a crossover from Jackie Gillies. Originally from The Real Housewives of Melbourne, she made a guest appearance during the fourth and fifth episodes, and additionally the reunion. Where the fireworks really went off. The healing session, obviously involved, zero healing!

Also last month, anAustralian spin-off of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip was revealed to be in development by production company, Matchbox Pictures. 

The series is set to combine cast members from both The Real Housewives of Melbourne and The Real Housewives of Sydney franchises. So does this kill the hopes of a fourth season?

I hardly think there is much new ground to cover for a potential fourth season. Even with the addition of Martine Chippendale, you can hardly just keep adding new housewives, till something sticks.

That said the drama, the wild comments and the big bitch energy was a hoot. A really wonderful distraction from everyday life. Well done to Binge for continuing to bring a variety of local content. Here is to Mixtape starting this week!

Film Influencer 2025 - Karate Kid: Legends

Following the woeful last few seasons of Cobra Kai on Netflix, I had very low expectations for Karate Kid: Legends. However to my surprise, the cheese factor was low, the action came fairly thick and fast and the run time, a swift 94 minutes.

Lead by icons Jackie Chan and Cobra Kai lead, Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang from American Born Chinese joins, as the main lead, Li Fong.

This is the sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise, serving as a continuation of The Karate Kid (2010) and the above mentioned series, Cobra Kai (2018–2025).

Both Chan and Macchio reprise their roles from the franchise—the latter's first involvement in a film from the franchise since The Karate Kid Part III (1989). 

The story follows Li (Wang), a kung fu prodigy who, after moving to New York and confronting with a local karate champion, receives help from his former master Mr. Han (Chan) and karate sensei Daniel LaRusso (Macchio). 

When Li Fong relocates to New York City with his mother (Ming-Na Wen from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. 

But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso, Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.

There is a lot of heart in this film. This heart and emotion replaces the cheese and tacky nature of the last few seasons of Cobra Kai. While Ralph Macchio plays a small(ish) part, there is a brief cameo too from William Zabka reprising his role as Johnny Lawrence.

Sometimes going in with low expectations means you leave the cinema pleasantly surprised. That is exactly how I felt today.

My second film of the June long weekend, and by this session and the John Wick Friday session, the cinema's are back baby!

This session on Monday at lunchtime was sold out. Honestly I think this will be a fan favourite. The wonderful sweeping aerial shots of New York from drones, made the city look extremely inviting. Maybe New York will be next after LA with riots.

Ben Wang has loads of heart and really brought it as the lead in this film.

I enjoyed this, 3.5 Stars.

Post Holiday Blues 25' - Memory #9 (Final)

Welcome to the final Post Holiday Blues 25' photo memory series. A few more images from teamLab Borderless Tokyo, Azabudai Hills.

Honestly this place was AWESOME! So I hope you have enjoyed all nine memories. And yes more of my friends have run off to Europe. Sad face. 

Anyway its the long weekend, praise be!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Deli Boys - Season One

Deli Boys on Disney+ kicks off with Arshad "Baba" Dar, a Pakistani-American immigrant and head of the successful deli chain ABC Deli, is struck by a stray golf ball on a family golf trip and killed. 

Following the funeral, his sons Raj (Saagar Shaikh) and Mir (Asif Ali) visit the headquarters of DarCo, ABC Deli's parent company, in a bid to have Mir instated as CEO. Their pitch is interrupted by a raid by the FBI, who arrest interim CEO Lucky (Poorna Jagannathan). 

Agent Mercer informs the brothers of DarCo's two-decade history of tax fraud among other white-collar crimes. 

All company accounts are frozen and Mir and Raj's possessions are confiscated. With no other sources of income, they return to the first ABC Deli, Baba's sole business not owned by DarCo and the only deli still operating. 

Lucky arrives and shoots a staff member, Hamza, in front of the brothers before advising them to leave town. At Raj's insistence, she shows them a video from their father in which he bequeaths the family business to them. Lucky reveals that DarCo is a front for organised crime far beyond what the FBI knows about and blackmails them both into participating. 

Later, Hamza wakes and flees the store pursued by Raj and Mir. Mercer begins her surveillance.

The ten part comedy series stars, alongside Ali, Shaikh & Jagannathan, Alfie Fuller, & Brian George. 

The Hulu season starting streaming early-March to positive critical reception.

With the crew attempting to take up his mantle in the underworld, all hell breaks loose during this fresh new comedy series.

Deli Boys is another new comedy series, that tries to push boundaries with loads of swearing, the odd bit of violence but this time with Pakistani-American leads.

It is nice to see a some diversity on screen, however the jokes are mostly the same as recent comedy TV series.

So it's the winter TV catch up period. With so many choices, so many streaming services, Max, Binge, Stan, Paramount+, Disney+ (where Deli Boys streams), ABC iView, SBS on Demand, so there are so many watchlists that I have been adding to the last few months.

So in the new series, next quarter, expect loads of catch up series.

Until then, see you soon.

Film Influencer 2025 - From the World of John Wick: Ballerina

Ballerina or the long winded full name of the film, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is my latest 

Ballerina is fifth instalment in the John Wick franchise, serving as a spin-off set between the events of 2019's John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum & 2023's John Wick: Chapter 4.

Ana de Armas in the lead role, alongside Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and TWD's Norman Reedus combined with John Wick royalty, reprising their roles from the previous films include Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick (in his final screen appearance), Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.

So if you have seen a John Wick film before, you know the body count gonna be high. After a fairly long-winded set up, the two hour action film goes into hyperdrive.

We see Ana de Armas's origin story, as Eve the daughter of two assassins. Then she becomes a serious killer!

Ballerina has received generally positive reviews from critics, the almost full session last night, also loved it, reacted to some of the wild death scenes and the hand grenades. Oh boy!

At just over two over two hours, we go through night club scenes, to wild fight scenes and then to Europe.

John Wick appears around twice, but all eyes are really on Eve.

The best thing about these revenge films, is there is always some random twist. If you need a good popcorn film this weekend, need some action, this is the film for you.

With a slow start, the pace really begins to pick up, real fast. Then goes into turbo drive! If you enjoyed the previous John Wick films, you'll love this.

3.5 gun blazing stars.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Strife - Season Two

Strife recently returned. This time not as a binge (well it streams on Binge ironically) but week-to-week. Mostly with double episodes on Thursday's.

Starring Asher Keddie as Eve, the second series commenced last month produced by Lorelle Adamson for Made Up Stories and Fifth Season, with executive producers for the second season including Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Alison Hurbert-Burns, Lana Greenhalgh and Asher Keddie.

The story of Mia Freedman and MammaMia continues across season two with tech bro's moving in, expansions and competition in the media market.

Strife season one (also on Binge) was set around year 2012 and follows Eve (Keddie), who is running Eve, a new women's web site. 

Her personal life is beset by problems; she has abandoned her marriage and marital home, but is struggling to pay the rent on her city apartment. Meanwhile, she navigates co-parenting teenage children with her estranged husband, Jon (Day).

Her fortunes and those of the nascent website change when she writes a confessional column, "I ended my marriage over a flat white" that goes viral.

Binge was done well with this easy-breezy Aussie comedy continuing in season two.

There have been rumours of an Asher Keddie series getting another season. Will that be for Fake or Strife? I feel like Fake on Paramount+ was more a miniseries vibe, whereas Strife could easily continue as Eve's media empire grows.

This season the podcast was launched! Next season more social media viral moments?

Strife is a quality series that may have been released too late for this year's Logie nominations landing in a few Monday's. However I am happy while Binge lost HBO content, they have continued with some solid Aussie content. Next up the co-pro Mix-Tape from Thursday.

Happy long weekend dear readers!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Adults - Season One

Adults is a new 20-25 minute comedy living on Disney+ from FX.

The series is about a group of friends in their twenties experiencing adulthood in Queens, New York. All eight episodes loaded up late last month and man it's an easy as watch.

Starring Malik Elassal as Samir, Lucy Freyer as Billie Schaeffer, Jack Innanen as Paul Baker, Amita Rao as Issa and Owen Thiele as Anton as the main housemates in Queens.

Alongside the main ensemble, Daredevil's Charlie Cox stars as Andrew / Mr. Teacher, Billie's love interest.

There is a very small cliffhanger which relates to a certain kiss after a married over connivence for the Canadian roommate, Paul Baker.

I am not sure whether FX will give this a second season. They took a long time to renew the brilliant English Teacher.

Adults doesn't give the viewer anything new, the gross out comedy thing has been done and dusted. Well ever since Bridesmaids first burst onto the scene. Then it's been raunchy comedy, after raunchy comedy.

Disney+ sure is keeping you warm this winter. With this title along with loads of incoming series. Also I am still awaiting 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 Lonestar, Disney+ Australia!

Until next time. Stay warm.

Post Holiday Blues 25' - Memory #8

teamLab Borderless Tokyo, Azabudai Hills is a world of artworks without boundaries, a museum without a map created by art collective teamLab.

Artworks move out of rooms, relate to other works, influence each other, and at times intermingle, without boundaries. Through this group of works, one continuous world without boundaries is created.

Immerse your body in borderless art. Wander, explore with intention, discover, and create a world with others.

This was honestly a MUST visit when in Tokyo. Honestly had such a great day, as it was another day of rain whilst we were away.

If Vivid is your thing, this will 100% be your thing! Just a few posts more in the Post Holiday Blues 25' memories series.

Until next time! Also is everyone already heading off to Europe? Like seriously WTF!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Residence - Miniseries

I used to adore Shondaland series, however for me, The Residence just wasn't the greatest.

Streaming on Netflix, inspired by The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower, the series revolves around a fictional murder scandal involving the staff of the White House.

I missed this when it initially started streaming back in March.

Set as an upstairs, downstairs, mystery, set in White House, Cordelia Cupp, an eccentric detective, arrives on the premises in order to solve a murder that occurred during a state dinner. During the investigation, interpersonal conflicts between 157 personnel of the residence start to unfold.

132 rooms. 157 suspects. 1 dead body. 1 wildly eccentric detective. 1 disastrous State Dinner. 

The Residence, is described as a screwball whodunnit, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion. 

Starring Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, Randall Park, Susan Kelechi Watson and many more, including Australian's Kylie, former Australian prime ministers son, Julian McMahon and Brett Tucker.

I'm not sure why this didn't hit the mark for me. But it just didn't I wish it did. But is just didn't. I loved Julian McMahon in the awesome Ryan Murphy cult classic, Nip/Tuck. But for me, this was just a bit blah.

It might not be so much of a spoiler as this aired over two months ago, however like me if you are late to the party, this is how episode eight goes down.

Spoiler alert, episode eight is super long. Like 1.5 hours long!

The following morning, Cupp leads the suspects on a tour of the murder before revealing Lilly as the killer. 

Having always disrespected the traditions of the White House, Wynter discovered evidence of her embezzlement and threatened to expose her. 

Angered, Lilly attempted to poison him during a meeting in the Yellow Oval Room before fatally striking him with a clock. Finding the body and mistakenly thinking Elsyie was the murderer, Bruce dragged the body to the Lincoln Bedroom, before moving the body to Room 301, unaware Tripp was asleep inside.

Fearing blame, Tripp moved the body to the Game Room, staged Wynter's suicide with Gotthard's knife after finding the suicide note Lilly placed in his pocket, and painted over Wynter's blood in Room 301. Seeing a chance to cover up the evidence, Lilly impersonated Elliot to keep people from the Yellow Oval Room and to order a passage to the room be sealed. Opening the passage, Cupp reveals the incriminating clock. 

With the murderer in custody, Cupp presents her conclusions to the committee, and tells Nan the case has been solved.

So if you like murder, mysteries, maybe give this a shot. If they are not your bag then maybe watch something else on Netflix. Speaking of, up next I am finally catching up on the third season of Heartstopper.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - MobLand - Season One

MobLand is honestly one of the best series from the Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' quarter.

Starring Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, a fixer for the Harrigan crime family led by Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and Maeve Harrigan (Helen Mirren). 

Paddy Considine also stars as Kevin Harrigan, son of Conrad and Maeve, and Harry's longtime working partner. 

Legendary and ex to Madonna Guy Ritchie, alongsideAnthony Byrne, Daniel Syrkin, and Lawrence Gough serve as directors for the first season. 

The series was first announced in February 2024 as The Donovans, a loosely-based spinoff of the Showtime series Ray Donovan. Last October, the series was announced to have been reworked into a standalone series with the working title The Associate.

Production began in November 2024 with Hardy, Brosnan and Mirren in London, and the working title was removed. In February, the final title of the series, MobLand, was revealed.

The Harrigans (not the Donovans), a London crime family, find themselves in a battle with the Stevensons that could end syndicates and their lives. 

Harry Da Souza is a street-smart and formidable fixer employed by the Harrigan family to navigate and mitigate the escalating conflict threatening their empire. As tensions between the families intensify, Harry is tasked with protecting the Harrigans' interests and preventing an all-out gang war.

 

So with power up for grabs as the Harrigans and Stevensons, two warring London crime families, clash in a kill-or-be-killed battle that threatens to topple empires and ruin lives. 

Caught in the crossfire is Harry Da Souza, the street-smart ‘fixer’ as dangerous as he is handsome, who knows too well where loyalties lie when opposing forces collide. 

As kingdom goes up against kingdom, lines will be crossed - and the only saving grace is a bet-your-life guarantee: family above everything.

So what went down in the action packed finale. Firstly spoiler alert! Secondly, this series does stream on Donovan's Showtime adjacent, Paramount+.

Kevin, after killing Rusby, sits alone in front of the dead body and recites a story about how he and Bella tried to live a normal marriage, and how he found out Eddie is his brother. 

Harry then shows up on the scene and sees Kevin with Rusby; Kiko and Zosia clear the bloodied items and clean Rusby's body. 

Harry interrogates O'Hara about how she betrayed the family to Richie and that she is the rat. 

Kevin extends his support to Harry. Kevin meets Conrad and tells his father how he killed the person who hurt him. Eventually, Kevin threatens Conrad. 

Eddie meets Maeve in jail, and over the intercom she tells him that he should kill Harry and Seraphina as part of a new plan to take control of the family operations. She discovers that Eddie is clueless about his true family ties and prepares to set him straight. 

Kat talks to Seraphina and says that the Harrigans are in bad shape as leaders of their family operations and that she would like to meet personally with Seraphina. Colin pays Alice £100,000 for her work, but he betrays her to Richie's men. 

Richie's men kidnap her and tell Richie that the job is done. O'Hara goes to meet Ritchie and tells him Harry wants her to arrange a meeting where he intends to kill Ritchie. She calls Harry while in Ritchie's office with Ritchie silently listening in, in order to convince Harry about a 1pm meeting in her office with Ritchie to be there at the meeting. 

Harry seems to accept the appointment as his chance to ambush and kill Ritchie.

Richie sends half of his men to O'Hara's office and half of his men to the country safe house to eliminate the Harrigan family. After Ritchie's troops arrive for the ambush, Paul has rigged the office for detonation and remotely blows up the office with all of Ritchie's troops inside. 

Separately, Kiko and Zosia infiltrate the safehouse and similarly ambush and kill Richie's men, but Kiko gets shot and dies in the process. 

Harry and Kevin then arrive at Ritchie's bar and office to ambush and kill his few remaining men and to then get Ritchie. Harry and Kevin quickly locate Ritchie and O'Hara in Ritchie's office and quickly shoot them both to death. 

While at the holding tank at the police, Maeve and Conrad speak to each other on their cell phone from different holding rooms. 

Harry and Kevin contemplate their gains and discuss needing to get a new attorney to replace O'Hara and to decide how long they will let Maeve and Conrad sit in the holding tank at the police. 

Harry goes to have lunch with Kat, who wishes to discuss the end of the Harrigan family. She wants Harry to join her against the Harrigans but Harry declines to sell them out against all odds. He walks out on Kat. 

Harry goes to meet his wife and daughter but has a fight with his wife in which she cuts herself while cutting vegetables, and Harry unexpectedly gets stabbed in the chest during the argument. 

Conrad is prepared to leave from lock-up and be discharged, when he receives a standing ovation from the on-looking inmates for what appears to be his beating the system and the charges against him one more time.

The series was a wild ride, full of C bombs, full of action, Hardy being a serious fixer and Helen Mirren being damn frightening!

If you have Paramount+ watch this now! Don't delay!

Film Influencer 2025 - Bring Her Back

Bring Her Back is the latest supernatural horror film directed by Aussies, Danny and Michael Philippou.

The film was written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman. 

Produced by Causeway Films and RackaRacka, in association with Salmira Productions and South Australia Film Corporation.

Bring Her Back stars Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, and Sally Hawkins. Hawkins is literally terrifying with this unhinged vibe that stays with long after the film.

Released this week, the session I went to was packed AF! Monday nights preview screenings were also really busy.

Principal photography began last June. The Philippous brothers, returned to their home state of South Australia to film in Adelaide and its surrounding areas, like Lightsview. Filming concluded after 41 days.

The film is deeply disturbing in parts. Hawkins really is off the rails as Laura, whilst Billy Barratt, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, Sora Wong & Liam Damons were all awesome supporting cast members.

This will go down as one of the films I remember at the end of 2025, when I review the year in film.

Sadly Spit this was a much better, interesting Australian film. Likely to do well at future ward nights.

Bring on Talk to Me 2 I say! The Philippous brothers are definitely ones to watch!

No spoilers or major plot giveaways here, this deserves more than 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. 4 Stars. Great job! Go Adelaide!